Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the global Anglican church, has sought to mollify conservative bishops by “affirming the validity” of a 1998 declaration that gay sex is a sin.
But, as a balancing gesture, he also indicated that he would not seek the authority to punish churches – including those in Scotland, Wales and the US – that allow same-sex marriage.
In a letter sent to more than 650 bishops attending the once-a-decade Lambeth conference just two hours before a potentially rancorous discussion on sexuality, Welby said the 1998 resolution, known as Lambeth 1.10, was “not in doubt”.
Campaigners for LGBTQ+ equality within the church responded to Welby’s attempt to reconcile polarised views with anger. Jayne Ozanne said: “I feel deeply angry and frustrated that yet again priority has been given to saving a manmade institution over protecting LGBTQ+ people’s lives.
“Let us be clear that Lambeth 1.10 encourages ‘conversion therapy’ and negates the God-given love between two individuals. It is a stick with which many of us have been beaten and will continue to suffer under around the world.”
Welby’s letter was issued as conservative church leaders from the global south called on bishops at the conference in Canterbury to reaffirm the 1998 declaration in defiance of a decision by organisers to drop voting in favour of “supportive applause”. » Harriet Sherwood | Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Goodbye, Anglicanism! Auf Nimmerwiedersehen! Adieu pour toujours ! Apropos of this nonsense, my next move could well be to atheism. Well done, Mr. Welby! By the way, you affirm that "gay sex" is a sin. What about gay love? 'Having sex' outside of marriage has always been a sin in Christianity, even in the heterosexual community. But it has to be said that only animals 'have sex'. Observe dogs copulating! That is 'having sex'. But civilised people shouldn't be 'havng sex' anyway; rather, they should be 'making love'! What does the Bible say about two men/two women 'making love'? – © Mark Alexander
